The Battle of Mortimers Cross took place on 2 or 3 February 1461 at a location close to Wigmore in Herefordshire. This clash saw a force led by Edward Earl of March, William Herbert and Lord Ferrers defeat a Lancastrian army commanded by Owen and Jasper Tudor along with James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire. Mortimer’s Cross is the source of some of the best known Yorkist imagery, as it was here where a parhelion was used as a motivational tool by Edward which later became one of his symbols when he was King of England. Following the battle, Owen Tudor was captured and taken to Hereford where the Yorkists executed him. 

Build up to the Battle

Events of 1459 and 1460 had brought England and Wales to a point where all out war between the ruling Lancastrians and the Yorkist lords was inevitable. In 1459 the Yorkists had armed themselves and congregated at Ludlow. The Earl of Salisbury’s force was intercepted at Blore Heath where they defeated a Lancastrian army. At Ludlow things were less successful for the Yorkists. Men from Calais changed sides and the expected Battle at Ludford Bridge turned into a simple rout as the Yorkist Lords opted to flee.

With the senior Yorkists having fled, the Lancastrians set about removing their rights. The Coventry Parliament attainted the main Yorkists. It left them in exile with no political rights and nothing to lose. Having fended off attempts to oust them from Calais, the Earls of March, Salisbury, and Warwick then launched a campaign that saw them engage with the Lancastrian Army at Northampton, in which they captured King Henry VI during their victory. The Duke of York soon returned from Ireland and stated his claim to be rightful King of England. A compromise, the Act of Accord, was agreed by a Yorkist dominated council which would see the crown pass to the Duke of York and his heirs upon the death of King Henry VI.

Queen Margaret and her supporters were unwilling to accept the Act of Accord as it disinherited Prince Edward and handed power to their foes. Lancastrian forces gathered in the north. The Duke of York along with his son the Earl of Rutland and the Earl of Salisbury marched north to tackle the Lancastrian army. It proved distastrous for the Yorkists with the Duke and both Earls losing their lives in or shortly after the Battle of Wakefield.

After the victory at Wakefield the Lancastrians consolidated their grip on the north and then marched south to try and recover King Henry VI and the City of London. As they marched south the Yorkists recruited for their defence. The Earl of Warwick drew from his estates and the South East, with the Earl of March recruiting in lands loyal to his family in and near the Welsh Marches. The Welsh Marches were important to both sides as the region was a Yorkist stronghold but was also a route through which Lancastrian loyalists and any foreign mercenaries would need to travel in order to join forces with Queen Margaret.

Battle of Mortimer’s Cross

Parhelion – the Sun in Splendour

Prior to the start of the battle a rare sight appeared in the sky. A parhelion, also known as a Sun Dog, was sighted by the Yorkist forces. A parhelion is a vision of three sons, caused by an unusual combination of weather conditions. Edward is said to have used the sight to inspire his men, telling them that the three sons represented the Holy Trinity, a sign that god was on their side. If that really did happen or not is hard to establish. It is clear from later Yorkist imagery that the parhelion at Mortimer’s Cross was an important and useful symbol. It became transformed into what is commonly called the Sun in Splendour, an image that is easily identifiable and closely associated with the reign of King Edward IV.

Alle soo the same day that the Erle of Marche shulde take hys jornaye towarde Mortymer ys Crosse fro Herforde este, he mousterd hys many with owte the towne wallys in a mersche that ys callyd Wygmersche. And ovyr hym men say (saw) iij sonnys schynyng.

Gregory’s Chronicle

Moving to the Battlefield

Lancastrian forces under Jasper Tudor Earl of Pembroke and James Butler Earl of Wiltshire (and Ormond) landed in Wales, probably at Milford Haven, in late December 1460. These men came from lands held in Ireland. Along with these men were retainers and their men from lands in South Wales that were loyal to the Earl of Pembroke. From a base in the South of Wales, the Lancastrian force prepared to make its way into England to take on Edward Earl of March.

Little is known about the way that the battle was fought. Indeed, some accounts are unsure which side moved on the other. For example, the Short English Chronicle says that Edward:

with all his men torned a yene bacwarde into Walis and mett with hem at Mortymers Crosse…’

Whilst also saying that the Lancastrians had marched on Edward:

purposynge hem for to destroye hym

Of course it is possible that Edward moved on the Lancastrians when aware of their movements in order to secure a most advantageous site for the battle.

The Battlefield at Mortimer’s Cross

The exact location of the battlefield has not yet been accurately identified. Archaeological surveys and analysis of contemporary and secondary sources are ongoing to attempt to gain a greater understanding of the clash. What is known is that it was fought near Mortimer’s Cross. Mortimer’s Cross can be found south of Wigmore, north of Kingsland, to the south west of Lucton. In terms of modern directions, it is at the junction of the A4110 and B4362. This area has several potential sites at which the battle may have been fought. That it was in this area is not particularly surprising. For the Lancastrian force to move from bases close to Milford Haven into England and in search of the Yorkists, they would most likely take an easier route avoiding the rugged and difficult terrain in what is now the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons). This route would take the Lancastrian force into easier ground to the north of the beacons, with a number of routes open to the advancing army should it learn of Yorkist movements near Wigmore, Ludlow, or Hereford. Foard and Partida explore the local traditional view on the battlefield location on pages 9 and 10 of their report on the battlefield.

Camps

Various non contemporary accounts suggest that the Lancastrians camped at Kingsland and were moving in a northerly direction along the route of an old Roman Road. This would threaten the Yorkist castle at Wigmore, thus forcing Edward to take to the field to protect his estates. These accounts may be based on local tradition but are also written several hundred years after the battle so may have suffered from inaccurate recounting of folklore over the years. Edward IV‘s reign saw imagery relating to Mortimer’s Cross and the Parhelion that suggests that the Yorkists saw the Parhelion whilst close to an urban area, with the Cross visible in the distance. This would hint at the Yorkists having camped to the south of Mortimer’s Cross on fields north of Hereford that were frequently utilised for arrays.

Formations

The traditional view of the battle itself is based on a lack of contemporary accounts and little concrete evidence in the form of battlefield finds. Tradition has it that Edward formed his army up just to the south of Mortimer’s Cross, using the normal formation of a vanguard front and centre, with a battle on each flank. Most have the Yorkist army facing south, though there has been a suggestion that Edward was facing to the west: which seems unlikely as it would leave his force backed against a river with no escape route.

Soldiers

The men who fought at Mortimer’s Cross came from varied backgrounds. The Lancastrian force contained men drawn from Tudor dominated lands. These would have included archers such as the one illustrated by Paul Hitchen which is shown above. The retainers and their men would presumably have been better equipped, wearing armour perhaps similar to that worn by the Yorkist soldier illustrated below. The Lancastrian force also incorporated men from Ireland who some sources suggest fought in the vanguard. These Irishmen typically wore no armour – a feature of their style of fighting that continued throughout the Wars of the Roses: many who joined the invasion of 1487 and fought at Stoke were similarly lacking in protective clothing.

The Fighting

As with details on the precise location of the battle, the information available about the way in which the battle was fought is quite limited. We can make assumptions about the way in which the armies formed up but these would be dependant on the precise location of the main part of the battle.

And anone fresshly and manly he toke the felde upon his enemyes and put hem at flyght, and slewe of them iij ml, and some of ther capteyns were take and he hedide, but Pembroke and Wildshire stale a wey prevely disgysed and fled oute of the contrey”. Three Fifteenth-Century Chronicles with Historical Memoranda by John Stowe, ed. James Gairdner (London, 1880),

We do know that artillery was used at Mortimer’s Cross as archaeological surveys have recovered some shot. The finds are not in great quantities and the finds are in a relatively poor condition. However, as there are some that have been found across the wider area that can be dated with some accuracy, it is clear that at least one of the armies had ordnance to bring to bear on the battlefield. Given the Lancastrian government had armed castles in the region with cannon following the rout at Ludford Bridge, it is plausible that both sides had such weapons. The castles in the Marches had been seized by the Lancastrians in 1459/60. The political situation changed following the battle of Northampton and consequently some were returned to Yorkist hands. Either way, both factions had the potential to have gathered powdered weapons for battlefield use within the area and could have added more from other sources.

It is believed but not proven that the Yorkists deployed archers to the flanks which could have led to the Lancastrian force contracting into a tighter space in the valley. This in turn would present a solid block of foes to aim at with arrows, and a weaker formation to defend itself against a well organised infantry attack. This, along with any artillery fire, would be from raised ground to the sides which would have provided Edward with a very strong position from which to control the battle.

Owen Tudor executed

Whether or not that is how the battle was fought, the outcome was clear. The Lancastrian force was defeated and dispersed. Several notable figures were captured. This included Owen Tudor, who the Yorkists took to Hereford where he was beheaded.

“Right trusty and well beloved cousins, and friends, we grete you well. And suppose that yee have well in you  remembrance the great dishonour ahd rebuke that we and yee late have by traitor Marche, Harbert and Dunne, with their affinityes, as well  in letting us fo our journey to the Kinge, as in putting my father your kinsman to the death, and their trayterously demeaning, we purpose with the might of our lord, and assistance of you and other our kinsman, men and friends, within  a short time to avenge. 

Written at our towne of Tenbye the xxvth of ffeur. J Penmroke”

Jasper Tudor wrote to Roger Puleston, Governor of Denbigh Castle on 25 February 1460

Video about the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross

What happened next?

The main Lancastrian force of Queen Margaret was met with a Yorkist defence at St. Albans. Despite having prepared defences, the Yorkists were outwitted by the Lancastrians and forced to withdraw to London. In a reverse of the Battle of Northampton, the Lancastrians were able to recover King Henry VI as a consequence of the Second Battle of St. Albans. It now left the Earl of March needing to get to London from the West Country to join the Earl of Warwick preparing to defend London. Edward and his army met with the Earl of Warwick and Edward was proclaimed King in early March 1461. the Yorkists then marched north and won battles at Ferrybridge and Towton which secured the crown for Edward IV.

Contemporary Accounts of the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross

The battle suffers from a relative lack of detailed contemporary accounts. This makes it difficuly for historians to know the finer details of what took place to the point where it is not known for certain which date the battle took place on, or exactly where the centre of the battlefield was.

Annales Rerum Anglicarum

a battle was fought near Wigmore at Mortimers Cross, where the Earl of March with 51,000 (?15,000) men attacked the Earl of Pembroke with 8000, and there fled from the field there the Earl of Pembroke, the Earl of Wiltshire and many others…’

Annales Rerum Anglicarum

Annales Rerum Anglicarum dates the battle as being fought on 3 February 1461.

Brut Chronicle

‘And at this time, the earl of March being in Shrewsbury, hearing the death of his father, desired assistance and aid of the town for to avenge his father’s death; and from thence went to Wales, where, at Candlemas after, he had a battle at Mortimer’s Cross against the earls of Pembroke and Wiltshire.’

Brut Chronicle

Candlemas was 2 February in 1461.

Croyland Chronicle

In the meantime, the duke’s eldest son, Edward, earl of March before-named, engaged the partisans of the queen in Wales and, gaining a glorious victory over them, routed them at Mortimer’s Cross.

Croyland Chronicle

The Croyland Chronicle does not date the battle, it is simply referred to as an add on to a section discissing the Battle of Wakefield and Queen Margaret’s advance south which contains a brief reference to the Second Battle of St. Albans and the above note about Mortimer’s Cross.

The English Chronicle

Edward, the nobel Earl of Marsh, fought with the Welshmen near Wigmore in Wales, whose captains were the Earl of Pembroke and the Earl of Wiltshire, (and) he won a victory over his enemies, put the two earls to flight, and slew 4000 Welshmen.’

The English Chronicle

The English Chronicle dates the battle as having taken place on 3 February 1461.

Gregory’s Chronicle

Edward Earl of March, the Duke of York’s son and heir, won a great victory at Mortimer’s Cross in Wales, where he put to flight the Earls of Pembroke and Wiltshire, and took and slew knights, squires and others to the number of 3000. (In) that conflict Owen Tudor was taken and brought to Haverfordwest (Hereford), where he was beheaded in the market place: his head was set on the highest pinnacle of the market cross….’

Gregory’s Chronicle

Gregory’s Chronicle gives a date of 2 February 1461 for the battle.

Paston Letters

And men that come from London sey, there have not passid Thetford, not passyng CCCC.; and yet the townes and the cuntere that have waged hem shall thynk thei be discharged, and therfore if this Lords above wayte aftyr more pepill in this cuntre, be lyklynes it woll not be easy to get with owt a newe comission and warnyng. And yet it woll be thought ryght straunge of hem that have waged pepill to wage any more, for every towne hath waged and sent firth, and are redy to send forth, as many as thei ded whan the Kyng sent for hem be fore the feld at Lodlowe and thei that ar not go, be goyng in the same forme.

Paston Letter number 449.

The above extract refers to the recruitment being undertaken in the period prior to the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross.

Short English Chronicle

And the Erle of Marche kept his Crytmas at Glowceter. And when tythinges came that my lorde his fader and his brother with many oþper lordys falsely was mortherd and slayne, to hym the grettes hevynes that might be, and how the northe was reysed like as it a for wretyn commynge southewarde, than a none he dide sende in to dyverse shires of knowlache, and after he hadde xxx m^l of gode men commyng to fyght with hem. Than came sodenly oþer tidynges that the Erle of Wildshire and the Erle of Pembroke by see were come in to Walys with Frensshemen and Brettons, and Iresshe men, comynge and reysen Walys thorowe purposynge hem for to distroye hym, and he with all his men torned a yene bacwarde into Walis and mett with hem at Mortymers Crosse, where that hit was saide on a Sonday Candilmasday by the morowe appeared the sonne as iij sonnys sondry on hym in the este and closyd a yene to geder. And than he kneled doune on his kneis and made his prayers and thanked God. And anone fresshly and manly he toke the felde upon his enemyes and put hem at flyght, and slewe of them iij m^l, and some of ther capteyns were take and he hedide, but Pembroke and Wildshire stale a wey prevely disgysed and fled oute of the contrey.

‘A Short English Chronicle: London under Henry VI (1422-71)’, in Three Fifteenth-Century Chronicles with Historical Memoranda by John Stowe, ed. James Gairdner( London, 1880), British History Online

The Short English Chronicle places the battle on 2 February 1461.

Links relating to the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross

Heritage Gateway – overview of historic interpretations of the location of the site of the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross.

Battlefields Trust – narrative of the battle along with imagery and analysis relating to investigations of the possible sites of the battle. This includes a pdf copy of work conducted by Glenn Foard and Tracey Partida on the evidence. This report is the most recent and up to date analysis of evidence.

SchoolsHistory.org.uk – another of my websites. This account was originally written for an education pack to support the Mortimer’s Cross Battlefield Project.

Battle of Mortimer’s Cross

Historic England – hold a number of images linked to the battle.

The History of Parliament – Making the most of a parhelion: the earl of March and the battle of Mortimer’s Cross.

Image Credits

Featured Image:

Cigarette Card: Battle of Mortimer’s Cross [February 2nd, 1461]. (Earl Pembroke; the battle oak – the rallying point of Prince Edward; where the old cross stood.) George Arents Collection. Public Domain. New York Public Libraries.

Welsh Archer / Yorkist Infantry. Images by Paul Hitchen are ilustrative of equipment and clothing worn by soldiers at Mortimer’s Cross. Images specifically created to visualise the armies at this battle. Rights are held by Paul and used with his permission.